• ASX lithium miners are raking it in, a trend set to continue for a while yet
  • CATL’s new batteries travel an impressive +1,000km between each charge
  • Last week’s top ASX performers: Anson, White Cliff, Dart Mining

 Our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, rare earths, manganese, magnesium, and vanadium.

 

Here’s why those lithium super profits aren’t going anywhere

Lithium is one of the best performing metals of 2022.

Year-to-date Chinese battery-grade lithium carbonate prices have risen by 90% while lithium hydroxide is up by 127%. Prices for spodumene (6% Li2O) have risen by 189% year-to-date, according to Benchmark.

ASX lithium miners are currently raking it in, a trend set to continue for a while yet.

Here’s Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s latest supply-demand predictions out to 2030, and beyond:

Between now and 2025: Supply will struggle to keep up with demand.

“In the short-term, continued robust electric vehicle demand globally and record-breaking heat and drought in the southwest of China [which is curtailing lithium supply] are the key drivers for the market,” Benchmark says.

Longer-term, there is very little additional lithium production capacity coming online before late 2023 and early 2024, according to Benchmark, and many projects are still being delayed.

“High prices are incentivising accelerated capital spending which will bring forward the timeline for a number of development stage projects, however the speed of these expansions are struggling to keep pace with growing demand,” Andrew Miller, chief operating officer at Benchmark, said.

Market becomes more balanced around 2026.

In the next four years additional supply will push prices to more stable levels, Benchmark says.

But then it blows out again. Massively.

“The supply deficit is expected to worsen from 2030 onwards, as demand grows by another 1 million tonnes LCE in a few years,” Benchmark says.

Just check out that cascading shortfall from 2030. Certainly good news for quality lithium plays, from early-stage explorers through to the producers.

 

CATL’s new batteries travel +1,000km between each charge

Do you regularly drive long distances? Worried about EV range?

China-based Contemporary Amperex Technoloy Co (CATL), one of world’s largest EV battery manufacturers, says the new mass-produced Qilin batteries can travel over 1,000km between each charge.

That would easily take you from Melbourne to Sydney, Perth to Carnarvon, or Hobart to Launceston and back 2.5 times.

They are also 13% more powerful than Tesla’s own 4680 battery, it says.

“With a record-breaking volume utilization efficiency of 72% and an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg, it achieves the highest system integration level worldwide so far,” it says.

“Moreover, by adopting the trail-blazing large-surface cell cooling technology, Qilin supports a hot start in 5 minutes and fast charging in 10 minutes.

“With the same chemical system and the same pack size, it can deliver 13% more power than [Tesla’s] 4680 battery, accomplishing an all-round improvement in range, fast-charging, safety, service life, efficiency and low-temperature performance.”

Geely’s ZEEKR and Sokon Group’s SERES brands will be the first to use Qilin batteries, with rollout pencilled in for early 2023.

 

Battery Metals Winners and Losers

Here’s how a basket of ASX stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, rare earths, magnesium, manganese, and vanadium is performing>>>

Battery metals stocks missing from our list? Shoot a mail to [email protected]. Be nice, he’s fragile.

CODE COMPANY 1 WEEK RETURN % 1 MONTH RETURN % 6 MONTH RETURN % 1 YEAR RETURN % PRICE MARKET CAP
WCN White Cliff Min Ltd 75% 91% -13% 91% 0.021 $10,457,653.79
ASN Anson Resources Ltd 58% 142% 186% 242% 0.315 $292,955,015.48
DTM Dart Mining NL 56% 64% 20% 14% 0.12 $16,907,520.00
RR1 Reach Resources Ltd 50% 100% -25% 0% 0.006 $8,595,227.88
KFM Kingfisher Mining 41% 71% 82% 128% 0.41 $9,246,150.27
AOA Ausmon Resorces 33% 33% 14% 23% 0.008 $6,858,314.74
LNR Lanthanein Resources 33% 225% 93% 198% 0.052 $49,104,104.07
AM7 Arcadia Minerals 28% 79% 16% 32% 0.25 $11,907,962.46
ADD Adavale Resource Ltd 25% 45% -5% -35% 0.035 $13,121,189.94
HAS Hastings Tech Met 24% 33% 1% 36% 5.44 $504,199,666.25
LOT Lotus Resources Ltd 22% 5% -9% 54% 0.2625 $295,977,460.17
EMT Emetals Limited 20% 9% -29% -40% 0.012 $9,350,000.00
CML Chase Mining Limited 18% 38% 38% -3% 0.0165 $7,490,124.18
SYR Syrah Resources 18% 22% 27% 49% 1.795 $1,149,209,167.44
IMI Infinitymining 18% 67% 14% 0% 0.2 $11,500,000.00
NWM Norwest Minerals 17% 17% -2% -29% 0.054 $9,030,369.35
GAL Galileo Mining Ltd 15% 11% 532% 329% 1.2 $246,760,325.00
JRV Jervois Global Ltd 15% 31% -27% 20% 0.5225 $782,671,744.92
SRL Sunrise 15% 8% 62% 75% 2.95 $243,156,273.30
BUX Buxton Resources Ltd 14% 50% 20% 60% 0.12 $17,499,491.28
FRS Forrestaniaresources 13% 13% -45% 0% 0.17 $5,838,228.20
GME GME Resources Ltd 13% 13% 120% 141% 0.13 $69,046,117.07
MMC Mitremining 13% 8% -35% 0% 0.13 $3,521,063.00
TMT Technology Metals 13% -11% 17% -8% 0.35 $69,242,103.81
PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 13% 29% 32% 72% 3.57 $10,394,430,572.81
AKE Allkem Limited 13% 25% 55% 69% 14.07 $8,793,305,005.94
DEV Devex Resources Ltd 12% 52% 19% 78% 0.41 $133,034,097.92
ILU Iluka Resources 11% 12% 2% 19% 10.71 $4,399,331,955.39
THR Thor Mining PLC 11% 0% -23% -23% 0.01 $9,680,079.51
MIN Mineral Resources. 11% 27% 51% 31% 68.14 $12,119,767,494.39
PLL Piedmont Lithium Inc 10% 46% 30% 22% 0.895 $456,348,742.00
OMH OM Holdings Limited 10% 9% -29% -7% 0.695 $531,808,802.64
MLX Metals X Limited 9% -8% -52% 9% 0.29 $235,889,177.42
IGO IGO Limited 8% 19% 20% 43% 13.13 $9,594,583,190.71
WR1 Winsome Resources 8% 44% -20% 0% 0.26 $32,427,358.56
ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 8% 58% 58% 50% 0.0205 $19,061,481.14
MOH Moho Resources 8% 17% -42% -53% 0.028 $4,485,503.63
VML Vital Metals Limited 7% 2% -4% -36% 0.044 $229,845,902.92
AXE Archer Materials 7% 21% -9% -51% 0.895 $181,381,061.11
WC8 Wildcat Resources 7% 29% 7% 29% 0.031 $18,067,636.36
VRC Volt Resources Ltd 6% 6% 36% -37% 0.019 $63,092,611.76
AQD Ausquest Limited 6% 0% 12% 0% 0.019 $15,677,835.24
MCR Mincor Resources NL 5% 11% 7% 61% 2.14 $988,158,802.80
CTM Centaurus Metals Ltd 5% 13% -8% 13% 1.115 $457,003,712.11
INF Infinity Lithium 5% 9% 17% 61% 0.1525 $64,327,025.23
GT1 Greentechnology 5% 8% -5% 0% 0.725 $129,910,098.32
LIT Lithium Australia 5% 17% -21% -34% 0.083 $85,938,973.98
BRB Breaker Res NL 4% 21% -2% 18% 0.235 $74,943,413.67
KZR Kalamazoo Resources 4% 9% -16% -32% 0.245 $34,846,649.76
PNT Panthermetalsltd 4% 7% 9% 0% 0.245 $6,670,000.00
OCN Oceanalithiumlimited 4% 35% 0% 0% 0.62 $20,785,500.00
CAE Cannindah Resources 4% 11% -22% 298% 0.255 $136,243,534.50
STK Strickland Metals 4% -15% -9% 41% 0.052 $73,330,218.05
PVW PVW Res Ltd 4% -4% -57% 50% 0.27 $24,185,687.50
CLA Celsius Resource Ltd 4% -16% -41% -46% 0.0135 $20,173,968.58
TLG Talga Group Ltd 4% -1% 4% 7% 1.37 $423,914,581.41
NKL Nickelxltd 4% 12% 0% -40% 0.14 $8,383,500.00
WMG Western Mines 4% -20% -18% -24% 0.14 $5,128,550.00
ARU Arafura Resource Ltd 4% -16% 55% 103% 0.295 $508,748,611.68
AGY Argosy Minerals Ltd 3% -5% 27% 138% 0.38 $505,112,748.30
BMM Balkanminingandmin 3% -5% -32% -70% 0.19 $6,550,000.00
NTU Northern Min Ltd 2% 8% -14% 10% 0.043 $204,140,634.56
PNN Power Minerals Ltd 2% -1% 24% 78% 0.49 $28,934,690.37
MLS Metals Australia 2% -7% 8% 40% 0.056 $32,779,954.31
LPI Lithium Pwr Int Ltd 2% 9% 6% 117% 0.585 $199,012,563.36
CHN Chalice Mining Ltd 2% -10% -41% -31% 4.34 $1,557,870,383.16
LTR Liontown Resources 1% 29% 19% 126% 1.705 $3,623,901,428.40
SCN Scorpion Minerals 1% 22% 13% 14% 0.079 $26,878,326.55
GLN Galan Lithium Ltd 1% 5% -8% 24% 1.24 $357,869,610.18
BHP BHP Group Limited 1% 8% 1% 5% 41.85 $213,726,969,257.64
LEL Lithenergy 1% 1% 19% 58% 0.985 $44,247,000.00
IPX Iperionx Limited 1% 42% 14% -26% 0.995 $137,788,481.18
SYA Sayona Mining Ltd 1% 42% 147% 99% 0.2775 $2,199,177,545.88
CAI Calidus Resources 1% -12% -19% 14% 0.63 $264,857,931.53
CXO Core Lithium 1% 20% 80% 333% 1.385 $2,345,213,730.60
NMT Neometals Ltd 0% 21% 0% 84% 1.34 $690,433,135.00
VIA Viagold Rare Earth 0% 0% 0% 4662% 2 $166,624,808.00
QXR Qx Resources Limited 0% 3% -24% 182% 0.031 $24,921,507.31
HNR Hannans Ltd 0% 0% -32% 204% 0.021 $54,731,701.00
LPD Lepidico Ltd 0% 0% -3% 45% 0.029 $175,694,163.29
MRD Mount Ridley Mines 0% 25% -38% 67% 0.005 $29,372,642.20
AVZ AVZ Minerals Ltd 0% 0% -1% 263% 0.78 $2,752,409,203.44
RLC Reedy Lagoon Corp. 0% 7% -38% -17% 0.015 $8,361,403.68
MNS Magnis Energy Tech 0% 38% 10% 25% 0.45 $431,797,509.94
BKT Black Rock Mining 0% -12% -35% 0% 0.15 $136,824,682.96
SBR Sabre Resources 0% 38% 38% 38% 0.0055 $19,528,117.06
GED Golden Deeps 0% 33% 52% 45% 0.016 $17,328,400.71
SGQ St George Min Ltd 0% -13% -38% -61% 0.026 $18,200,463.01
TKL Traka Resources 0% 0% -36% -46% 0.007 $4,821,421.93
FFX Firefinch Ltd 0% 0% -11% 8% 0.2 $236,248,644.20
ATM Aneka Tambang 0% 0% 4% 15% 1.15 $1,499,196.35
RMX Red Mount Min Ltd 0% 8% -13% -22% 0.007 $11,496,547.01
GW1 Greenwing Resources 0% 4% -13% 0% 0.26 $32,660,547.49
LML Lincoln Minerals 0% 0% 0% 0% 0.008 $4,599,869.49
G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0% 23% -41% -42% 0.032 $6,926,908.88
WKT Walkabout Resources 0% 0% -16% -2% 0.173011 $78,248,343.26
CNB Carnaby Resource Ltd 0% -9% -46% 176% 0.91 $130,104,804.60
BNR Bulletin Res Ltd 0% 13% 13% 141% 0.135 $38,036,843.00
AS2 Askarimetalslimited 0% 26% -1% 79% 0.34 $14,872,859.10
BYH Bryah Resources Ltd 0% -3% -38% -42% 0.029 $7,819,097.27
GSM Golden State Mining 0% 38% -22% -50% 0.062 $7,254,880.65
SHH Shree Minerals Ltd 0% 0% -40% -10% 0.009 $9,907,895.14
TSC Twenty Seven Co. Ltd 0% 0% -25% -25% 0.003 $6,652,034.76
WML Woomera Mining Ltd 0% -6% -12% -24% 0.015 $9,615,662.92
CMO Cosmometalslimited 0% 15% -14% 0% 0.15 $3,826,500.00
ENT Enterprise Metals 0% -9% -29% -28% 0.01 $6,529,806.88
AVW Avira Resources Ltd 0% 33% -20% -20% 0.004 $10,593,950.00
KAI Kairos Minerals Ltd 0% 5% 32% 0% 0.029 $53,030,524.26
STM Sunstone Metals Ltd 0% -12% -42% 83% 0.044 $111,647,196.02
G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0% 23% -41% -42% 0.032 $6,926,908.88
MNS Magnis Energy Tech 0% 38% 10% 25% 0.45 $431,797,509.94
LPM Lithium Plus 0% 41% 0% 0% 0.605 $28,109,466.00
ODE Odessa Minerals Ltd 0% 10% 50% 230% 0.0165 $9,131,568.84
OZL OZ Minerals 0% 36% 1% 14% 25.655 $8,653,159,258.15
S32 South32 Limited 0% 9% -13% 44% 4.17 $18,930,285,178.56
EMH European Metals Hldg -1% 15% -37% -53% 0.75 $87,382,559.28
E25 Element 25 Ltd -1% 18% -34% -65% 0.69 $101,552,395.39
KTA Krakatoa Resources -1% 26% 38% 6% 0.0605 $21,716,724.77
AZI Altamin Limited -1% -8% 38% 10% 0.088 $31,729,056.91
AZI Altamin Limited -1% -8% 38% 10% 0.088 $31,729,056.91
MQR Marquee Resource Ltd -1% 7% -24% 27% 0.076 $23,040,083.34
GSR Greenstone Resources -1% 54% 111% 236% 0.074 $82,985,841.43
VR8 Vanadium Resources -1% -4% 3% 29% 0.072 $33,619,378.55
ZNC Zenith Minerals Ltd -2% -8% -10% 53% 0.305 $103,428,683.70
DVP Develop Global Ltd -2% 4% -29% -24% 2.36 $370,784,083.30
COB Cobalt Blue Ltd -2% -2% 85% 198% 0.805 $262,493,367.92
IXR Ionic Rare Earths -2% 4% -8% 42% 0.047 $178,139,826.32
LMG Latrobe Magnesium -2% 3% 0% 400% 0.09 $133,680,525.59
ASO Aston Minerals Ltd -2% -9% -39% -41% 0.088 $97,990,722.19
ESS Essential Metals Ltd -2% -13% 31% 143% 0.425 $100,230,386.18
MRR Minrex Resources Ltd -3% 5% -3% 241% 0.0545 $56,835,329.26
ARL Ardea Resources Ltd -3% -28% 34% 97% 0.905 $151,066,617.08
RGL Riversgold -3% 33% 73% 14% 0.036 $25,447,484.11
GL1 Globallith -3% 19% 26% 363% 1.735 $267,406,561.36
AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd -3% 1% -22% -6% 0.068 $10,516,420.70
VUL Vulcan Energy -3% 2% -8% -39% 7.93 $1,115,148,641.78
INR Ioneer Ltd -3% 18% 26% 36% 0.66 $1,321,824,467.88
REE Rarex Limited -3% -8% -39% -34% 0.061 $33,625,665.74
AML Aeon Metals Ltd. -3% 7% -38% -46% 0.03 $32,802,923.19
EFE Eastern Resources -3% 22% -41% 150% 0.03 $30,201,921.00
WIN Widgienickellimited -3% -15% -9% 0% 0.3 $70,056,000.00
EVR Ev Resources Ltd -3% 7% -41% 4% 0.029 $27,779,522.13
NVA Nova Minerals Ltd -3% -3% 39% -26% 0.85 $155,874,976.53
RFR Rafaella Resources -4% 8% -51% -66% 0.027 $7,582,243.92
KOB Kobaresourceslimited -4% -10% 0% 0% 0.135 $7,800,000.00
NIC Nickel Industries -4% -6% -33% 2% 1.02 $2,772,242,599.46
ARN Aldoro Resources -4% 23% -34% -55% 0.245 $24,398,892.67
QEM QEM Limited -4% 10% 53% 48% 0.23 $27,520,586.94
PAN Panoramic Resources -4% 18% -12% 18% 0.23 $481,964,790.94
CZL Cons Zinc Ltd -4% 16% -8% -27% 0.022 $8,521,871.89
MRC Mineral Commodities -4% -4% -29% -45% 0.085 $42,839,250.72
EUR European Lithium Ltd -5% 8% -9% 8% 0.083 $113,419,373.18
CNJ Conico Ltd -5% 114% 422% -37% 0.062 $91,496,376.97
CWX Carawine Resources -5% -9% -53% -55% 0.1 $13,783,434.70
JMS Jupiter Mines. -5% 0% -11% -22% 0.2 $382,003,251.44
TMB Tambourahmetals -5% -18% -33% -28% 0.1475 $6,384,852.69
A8G Australasian Metals -5% 16% -36% 71% 0.29 $11,939,443.26
LEG Legend Mining -5% -28% -41% -52% 0.038 $104,695,157.40
PAM Pan Asia Metals -5% 28% -4% 207% 0.46 $35,481,716.16
AX8 Accelerate Resources -5% 3% -14% -8% 0.036 $9,736,520.36
AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd -6% 8% -31% 113% 0.083 $197,367,896.00
AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd -6% 8% -31% 113% 0.083 $197,367,896.00
LRV Larvottoresources -6% 23% 32% 0% 0.245 $9,552,475.00
AZS Azure Minerals -6% -6% -45% -38% 0.2025 $63,700,822.81
HXG Hexagon Energy -6% -6% -67% -79% 0.016 $8,206,654.42
ADV Ardiden Ltd -6% -6% -33% -38% 0.008 $21,346,682.85
PEK Peak Rare Earths Ltd -6% 3% -32% -45% 0.47 $96,417,069.71
GRE Greentechmetals -6% 9% -8% 0% 0.235 $8,758,399.72
AR3 Austrare -6% -14% -54% -65% 0.38 $37,128,605.28
AVL Aust Vanadium Ltd -6% 2% 32% 96% 0.045 $174,414,354.31
PUR Pursuit Minerals -6% -12% -25% -75% 0.015 $13,906,188.72
S2R S2 Resources -6% 0% -17% 12% 0.145 $49,892,479.70
GBR Greatbould Resources -7% 9% -32% 15% 0.098 $42,287,217.30
SRZ Stellar Resources -7% -13% -44% -42% 0.014 $13,512,766.76
NC1 Nicoresourceslimited -7% -1% 35% 0% 0.83 $72,977,751.66
IG6 Internationalgraphit -7% 24% 0% 0% 0.34 $26,891,075.64
LYC Lynas Rare Earths -7% -2% -16% 33% 8.555 $7,968,294,021.82
BSX Blackstone Ltd -7% -5% -53% -57% 0.2 $92,278,918.88
RNU Renascor Res Ltd -7% -10% -24% 58% 0.19 $411,249,190.75
TEM Tempest Minerals -7% -5% 65% 114% 0.038 $18,171,582.34
1MC Morella Corporation -8% 33% 26% -62% 0.024 $138,375,498.86
NVX Novonix Limited -8% -18% -54% -44% 2.32 $1,080,429,386.88
RXL Rox Resources -8% -10% -47% -42% 0.23 $39,701,122.55
EMN Euromanganese -8% 0% -18% -44% 0.345 $89,083,753.15
NWC New World Resources -8% 0% -39% -43% 0.034 $66,488,501.59
CRR Critical Resources -8% -4% -39% 105% 0.045 $63,984,655.28
LKE Lake Resources -8% 37% 23% 102% 1.11 $1,480,322,000.09
KGD Kula Gold Limited -8% -18% -50% -60% 0.022 $4,733,863.90
LRS Latin Resources Ltd -8% 41% 206% 156% 0.11 $214,555,276.54
AOU Auroch Minerals Ltd -8% 8% -35% -61% 0.065 $24,493,378.73
FTL Firetail Resources -8% 4% 0% 0% 0.27 $17,299,100.00
VMC Venus Metals Cor Ltd -9% -9% -6% -6% 0.16 $26,412,982.70
TNG TNG Limited -9% 21% 72% 33% 0.105 $145,783,913.31
PGM Platina Resources -9% -3% -42% -57% 0.031 $17,313,125.50
SRI Sipa Resources Ltd -9% 8% -20% -38% 0.041 $8,406,016.92
FG1 Flynngold -9% 6% -39% -43% 0.1 $6,726,410.25
AUZ Australian Mines Ltd -9% 10% -49% -67% 0.079 $36,559,679.60
JRL Jindalee Resources -9% 1% -6% -32% 2.45 $145,742,573.64
QPM Queensland Pacific -9% 0% 12% -19% 0.145 $226,723,904.00
KOR Korab Resources -9% 38% -33% 71% 0.029 $9,910,350.00
EGR Ecograf Limited -10% 20% -32% -57% 0.365 $162,120,045.24
BEM Blackearth Minerals -10% -3% -10% -28% 0.09 $25,412,544.87
POS Poseidon Nick Ltd -10% -2% -44% -54% 0.053 $159,325,895.35
TON Triton Min Ltd -10% -7% -13% -28% 0.026 $32,728,388.60
BOA Boadicea Resources -10% -21% -33% -35% 0.13 $10,877,985.30
PSC Prospect Res Ltd -10% -22% 125% 435% 0.094 $44,839,167.81
RAG Ragnar Metals Ltd -11% 0% 50% 2% 0.042 $16,684,135.12
FGR First Graphene Ltd -11% -7% -31% -39% 0.125 $68,918,338.92
PGD Peregrine Gold -11% 76% 51% 90% 0.74 $27,685,912.54
IPT Impact Minerals -11% -11% -25% -37% 0.008 $19,850,964.45
ENV Enova Mining Limited -11% 0% -20% -33% 0.016 $5,875,440.99
SUM Summitminerals -11% 0% 0% 0% 0.16 $3,956,408.00
CMX Chemxmaterials -12% 23% 0% 0% 0.19 $8,833,313.94
ESR Estrella Res Ltd -12% -6% -42% -62% 0.015 $21,239,446.29
CHR Charger Metals -12% -3% -21% -6% 0.475 $15,150,181.28
RAS Ragusa Minerals Ltd -12% 229% 317% 229% 0.25 $31,517,796.66
EMS Eastern Metals -13% -10% -31% 0% 0.135 $5,025,312.50
FRB Firebird Metals -13% 0% -38% -57% 0.2 $13,077,561.60
CZN Corazon Ltd -14% 0% -32% -49% 0.019 $12,206,611.14
PRL Province Resources -15% 15% 5% -21% 0.115 $129,964,245.73
RBX Resource B -16% -19% -42% -38% 0.105 $4,302,532.19
MAN Mandrake Res Ltd -17% 22% -2% -25% 0.045 $22,448,996.64
ARR American Rare Earths -17% -11% -36% 23% 0.2275 $99,985,679.78
AKN Auking Mining Ltd -17% -21% -50% -46% 0.091 $9,568,762.66
MTM Mtmongerresources -18% 29% -18% -31% 0.135 $5,438,954.79
SLZ Sultan Resources Ltd -19% 16% -31% -33% 0.11 $9,161,282.79
LSR Lodestar Minerals -19% 0% -46% -28% 0.0065 $12,169,061.44
CLZ Classic Min Ltd -20% -51% -88% -88% 0.0175 $4,131,222.82
Wordpress Table Plugin

 

Weekly small cap standouts

WHITE CLIFF MINERALS (ASX:WCN)

This battery metals/critical minerals explorer is on the ground at the early stage Yinnetharra rare earths and lithium project in WA, where a new batch of “expedited” rock chip samples returned results up to 780ppm rare earths.

That’s positive, the company says, as it works to dial in on the primary source of mineralisation.

More sample results are on their way.

“Our knowledge of Yinnetharra is growing at an exponential rate, with a small batch of positive rock chip results returned for REEs, and with regional success from pairs for thorium anomalies adding to our exploration model, we are starting to grasp the exploration potential from a project area that has had in essence, no exploration,” technical director Ed Mead says.

“With positive REEs responses in assays from strongly altered rocks, on the periphery of thorium responses from recently reprocessed coarse data, our understanding and targeting is improving.”

 

ANSON RESOURCES (ASX:ASN)

This lithium play is on a hot streak.

On Monday last week, ASN increased resources at the Paradox lithium brine project in southern Utah by 324% to 788,300t of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), paving the way for development.

On Thursday, the share price hit all-time highs after a non-binding deal was inked with global direct lithium extraction (DLE) leader Sunresin to develop a full-scale commercial lithium plant at Paradox.

DLE tech promises to produce cheaper, higher quality, and more environmentally friendly lithium than incumbent processes.

ASN says Sunresin’s DLE technology works — it has already been commercialised at four operating projects. A further six are under construction or under contract in China and South America.

Since November 2021, Sunresin has worked with global engineering firm, Worley, on the Paradox Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which will be released soon.

ASN is targeting stage 1 production of 10,000tpa battery grade carbonate.

 

DART MINING (ASX:DTM)

Stockhead columnist Barry Fitzgerald picked DTM as the ‘most under the radar ASX lithium stock right now’ having recently signed up Chile’s lithium king SQM to a lithium joint venture at its Dorchap project in northeast Victoria.

$US28 billion market cap SQM is one of the big three in the lithium business.

It is best known for its JV with Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) in the $US700m integrated development of the Mt Holland lithium project in WA.